OU COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DEFENSIVE LINE COACH: New University of Oklahoma assistant football coach Jerry Montgomery PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ATHLETICS

Montgomery, the Sooners' new defensive line coach, and Boulware, who will coach tight ends and special teams, met with reporters Wednesday for their first interviews since joining OU's staff.

Montgomery arrives in Norman after a two-year run as Michigan's defensive line coach; Boulware, meanwhile, came to Oklahoma after a short, two-month stint on Wisconsin's staff. He coached the past four seasons at Auburn.

“We're big brother now,” said Boulware, who has also coached at Northern Illinois, Arizona, Stanford, Utah and Iowa State.

“I've been at places where you're little brother, as some people say, or you're equal or whatever ... but this is my first time at a place where you're definitely the big dog on the street and everybody knows it.”

Oklahoma begins spring practices Saturday with some new faces, enhanced responsibilities for others and loftier expectations for all.

Stoops' three new assistant coaches — Montgomery, Boulware and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh — must also quickly adapt to their unfamiliar surroundings and players.

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Jason Kersey became The Oklahoman's OU football beat writer in May 2012 after a year covering high school sports and OSU recruiting. Before joining the newspaper in November 2006 as a part-time results clerk, he covered high school football for...